Drawer divider or partition



Oct. 18, 1966 w. H. KAFFERLIN DRAWER DIVIDER 0R PARTITION Filed May 18, 1964 INVENTOR fl/M iam ff. KA/f r/I'H BY 7FM7OZNEY United States Patent 3,279,642 DRAWER DIVIDER 0R PARTITION William H. Kaiferlin, Spring Creek, Pa., assignor to Corry Jamestown Corporation, Corry, Pa., a corporation of New York Filed May 18, 1964, Ser. No. 367,953 4 Claims. (Cl. 22022) This invention relates to an improvement in partitions for drawers wherein the drawer interior is desired to be compartmented. Such partitions find usefulness in ofiioe equipment such as desks, files, etc. More particularly, the invention is directed to the provision of means by which one or more partitions may be used in any random or selected fashion to divide a drawer interior into several compartments.

Drawers to which the invention is applicable are frequently formed with a laterally offset and rolled or finished edge on each side. This presumably rigidifies the drawer as a whole in addition to presenting a smooth and attractive treatment to cooperate with a drawer front.

More particularly, the invention relates to the provision of specially designed clips which can be attached to the drawer sides and in alignment, and serve to locate and secure a partition in any desired transverse place in the drawer.

It is an important object of the invention to provide lengthwise adjustable clips for attachment to a drawer sides for mounting a drawer divider.

Another object would reside in the provision of partition or divider mounting clips that, when inserted, so engage the drawer sides as to resist displacement and the consequent misalignment of the divider.

A further object of the invention resides in the simplicity of installation and removal of divider anchoring clips whereby the drawer user may conveniently and at will rearrange the size and number of compartments of any given drawer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accomnanying drawing; and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer in which drawer dividers are shown in full and partial mounting position, which are located by clips forming part of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional and elevational view, taken as suggested by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially as suggested by the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clips used to mount a divider in a drawer;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the step in attaching a clip to a drawer side wall; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing the drawer attached clip and a divider being engaged with the clip.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 is employed to designate a drawer of the general type found in desks, cabinets, etc. These drawers, of course, include a front 11, bottom 12, sides 13 and rear wall 14. The front 11 may include a recessed or attached pull of desirable configuration by which to manipulate the drawer into and out of closed position.

Since the invention is concerned with means for producing compartments in a drawer, reference is particularly had to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 wherein the drawer sides 13 are shown in enlarged section. The upper edge of each side (see FIG. 5) is flanged directly outwardly, as

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at 16, to any desirable extent. This flange terminates in an upstanding flange 17 that may be parallel to the drawer side 13, and these flanges "form what may be termed an access ledge or shelf 18 for structure hereinafter described. The upstanding flange 17 terminates in an inwardly rolled edge or bead 19. This edge, besides its finished appearance, strengthens the drawer side and eliminates any possible damage to the hands or clothing of a person using the drawer. The edge 19 is, as may be seen, well above the flange 16.

Since the invention relates to means for dividing the drawer into several compartments, attention is now directed to a clip 21, together with a divider 22. This clip, as suggested, is intended to engage and secure itself to the drawer side wall 13 at any desired point throughout the length of the edge 19 and, to this end, consists of a generally vertical leg 23 and a horizontal portion 24. The leg 23 includes right angle flanges 26 and 27; flange 26, when the clip is positioned, being parallel to the drawer side, and flange 27 at right angles to the same drawer side. Extending from the ends of the portion 24 are angular feet 28, the top edges 29 of which are formed with curved recesses, the nature of which conforms to the contour of the edges 19.

The dividers 22, by which the drawer compartments are created, are, in the present instance, formed from a plate having identical configurations at opposite ends. Thus, when the plate is folded upon itself, the divider consists of a return bend or rounded upper edge 31. The corresponding folded sides, suggested at 32 and 32a, each include spaced apart walls throughout a substantial portion of their depth (FIG. 3). Inthese portions are generally circular blisters 33 which, when the plate is folded, abut and cause the sides 32 and 32a to be spaced apart horizontally, as suggested at 34. Beneath the blisters 33 the portions 32 and 32a may again be spaced, substantially as shown, and form legs 36 which rest on the bottom wall 12 of the drawer. From this description, it is evident that the space 34 between the sides represents an area in which to receive flanges 27 of the clips 21.

To more clearly identify the applicability of the invention to a drawer, attention is directed to the following description of the clip and divider installation.

Assuming the drawer 10 to be as described, a number of clips 21 and dividers 22 are provided. The clip is first attached to the drawer side (see FIG. 5) by tilting and projecting the feet 28 into the recess beneath the edge 19 in such manner that the edges 29 engage the under rolled portion thereof. Again referring to FIG. 5, the clip is swung into its final position. This brings the feet 28 into such contact with the shelf 18 as to force the curved portions of the feet to pressure engage the matching surface of edge 19. At this point, the clip flanges 27 lie against the side drawer side 13. The clips are made right and left hand, and so a reverse clip is now applied in the same manner to the other drawer side. Assuming that these two clips are directly opposite each other, the divider 22 may now be mounted. The divider, being double thickness with spaced sides, is engaged at one end with one clip flange 27 and may be swung into place to engage the corresponding flange of the opposite clip. Thus located, the divider is moved vertically downwardly until the feet 36 contact the drawer bottom 12. It will be appreciated that the divider now holds the clip legs 23 against the drawer sides and that the fitting edges 29 are firmly engaged with the edges 19. In this manner, the divider is firmly secured against displacement. It will be appreciated that any change in the compartment arrangement may be easily accomplished by merely withdrawing the divider, swinging the clips inwardly and moving them to with the clips in their new position.

From the foregoing, it is evident that through the use of the presently described clips and dividers, a drawer, such'as shown, may be provided with any reasonable number of large or small compartments and that these compartments may be altered quickly and easily as to number and size, as required.

Although applicant has shown only one type of clip and corresponding divider, it is evident that minor changes in structure may be made and are contemplated insofar as those changes are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a drawer and a clip,

said drawer having spaced sides,

said sides being flanged outwardly forming a laterally oifset portion adjacent their upper parts defining an outwardly extending flange,

said drawer sides extending upwardly from said outwardly extending flange and terminating at their upper ends in a bead overlying said flange,

a leg on said clip extending generaly parallel to said drawer sides, said clip having longitudinally spaced, laterally extending feet attached to said leg extending perpendicular to said flange and disposed between said flange and said bead,

said feet being pressure engaged by said head and frictionally held in position between said flange and said head,

the top edge of said feet being shaped to conform to the underside of said bead and the lower portion of said bead engaging the top of-said flange when said clip is in use position,

a drawer divider,

and means on said clip engaging said drawer divider,

said clip being adapted to be swung inwardly out of engagement with said sides when said divider is removed.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said bead portion comprises a rolled edge generally round in cross section-extending generally parallel to said flange.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein the portion of said feet engaging said bead comprises an upper edge contoured to fit over said rolled edge.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said clip is made from a piece of sheet metal,

said clip having a flange disposed parallel to a said drawer side,

said leg being co-planar with said flange and integral therewith,

said feet being integral with said leg and bent at right angles thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,906,191 4/1933 Thomas et al 220 22 2,271,250 1/1942 Buchhol 3l2,-140.3 2,697,631 12/ 1954 Miller 22022 2,842,269 7/ 1958 Gomersall 211184 2,956,675 10/ 1960 Gregory et al. 206-73 FOREIGN PATENTS 187,882 11/1922 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

R. H. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A DRAWER AND A CLIP, SAID DRAWER HAVING SPACED SIDES, SAID SIDES BEING FLANGED OUTWARDLY FORMING A LATERALLY OFFSET PORTION ADJACENT THEIR UPPER PARTS DEFINING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE, SAID DRAWER SIDES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE AND TERMINATING AT THEIR UPPER ENDS IN A BEAD OVELYING SAID FLANGE, A LEG ON SAID CLIP EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DRAWER SIDES, SAID CLIP HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED, LATERALLY EXTENDING FEET ATTACHED TO SAID LEG EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLANGE AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND SID BEAD, SAID FEET BEING PRESSURE ENGAGED BY SAID BEAD AND FRICTIONALLY HELD IN POSITION BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND BEAD, THE TOP EDGE OF SAID FEET BEING SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BEAD AND THE SLOWER PORITON OF SAID BEAD ENGAGING THE TOP OF SAID FLANGE WHEN SAID CLIP IS IN USE POSITION, A DRAWER DIVIDER, AND MEANS ON SAID CLIP ENGAGING SAID DRAWER DIVIDER, SAID CLIP BEING ADAPTED TO BE SWUNG INWARDLY OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SIDES WHEN SAID DIVIDER IS REMOVED. 